REASONABLE SUSPICION

REASONABLE SUSPICION

1. CRIMINAL ACTIVITY: McFadden saw Terry and Chilton repeatedly walk back and forth, look into the same store window, and meet with another man. He thought they might be planning a robbery.

2. TIME: It happened around 2:30 in the afternoon on October 31, 1963. The behavior happened for about 10–12 minutes.

3. LOCATION: The men were on a downtown Cleveland street near stores. McFadden had patrolled this area for years and was assigned to watch for shoplifters and pickpockets

4. CRIMINAL RECORD: The case says McFadden did not know the three men by name or by sight and had no information about them from another source. No prior criminal record is given.

5. EVASION: The men did not run away when McFadden approached. However, their repeated walking and returning to the same store window made their behavior look suspicious.

6. NONCOOPERATION: When McFadden identified himself and asked their names, the men only “mumbled something.” This did not clear up his concerns.

7. NERVOUS BEHAVIOR: The case focuses more on suspicious movements than obvious nervousness. Their repeated pacing, watching the store, and meeting with another man made McFadden suspicious.

8. EXPERIENCE: McFadden had been a police officer for 39 years, a detective for 35 years, and had patrolled that area for about 30 years. He used that experience to understand the behavior.